Today was the opening reception for a new academic year at the College where I work. Annually, the faculty, administration and staff gather for introductions of new members of the campus community and the honoring of employees with continuous years of service (five, ten, fifteen, etc.)
Every five years (those ending with a 4 or 9) I am among those who are recognized. I receive a beautiful piece of pottery from a well known campus artist, a round of gracious applause from co-workers and a myriad of congratulations following the assembly. I enjoy the 90 minutes (or less) of attention, mostly because I’ve always been told I couldn’t possibly have worked there that long… ‘You look much too young’; ‘Did you start when you were eight?’ Yada yada yada (who wouldn’t enjoy that?)
This year, I noted my 35th year of continuous service to the College. Thirty-five years. People still marvel at my longevity – though few accuse me of breaking child labor laws, probably because I have worked more years than many employees have even been alive.
“How have you managed to stay at one place so many years?” I’m asked. My pat answer is “It’s easy… don’t quit and don’t die.” I realize there’s always the possibility of being fired, but that’s never seriously worried me, I’m a pretty straight arrow with genetic work ethic. (Being laid off however, has struck fear in my heart a time or two, especially during some years when the College had financial difficulties.) Others remark, “I would be so bored doing the same thing for so many years….” (I laugh). Since I was hired as a keypunch operator, I can assure you my job has evolved. I’ve worked in three different departments, all within the Business Affairs division. I’ve been through three software conversions, worked in four different building and had eight bosses. I consider one of the two most difficult days of my three and one half decades to be the day I drove a co-worker to the hospital (after she received call from her husband’s work saying he’d been taken there by ambulance) and we found he had passed away. The other was the day I arrived at work to discover a suicide victim in my parking lot. People often talk about “where they were” when national events took place. I recall watching a small black and white television as reports were broadcast about the Challenger disaster in 1986. Fifteen years later, I watched the Twin Towers collapse on September 11th and then there was the day someone came into our office and said a gunman was shooting students in a high school in Colorado…
On a lighter note, I’ve enjoyed the novelty of working in a diverse community. From 18-22 year olds from all over the world, to intellectual (and not so) faculty members, to many individuals with political and religious views other than my own. I’ve developed a respect for those with different cultures or values. I’ve had international students stay in my home and we remain in contact many years later. I’ve seen every mode of dress (or undress), hair color, piercings, dweebs, nerds, jocks, hotties, and even an occasional ‘regular’ looking person. All looking to find and express themselves in their four year adventure called college.
I’ve worked with wonderful people. When you think about it, you spend much more time with your co-workers than with your family members. … Wouldn’t it be terrible to be held captive eight hours a day, with people you didn’t even like? It’s never been a problem. I’ve been blessed with the best and I’ve never taken them for granted. I’ve had a couple bosses with crimps… but I outlasted them (I don’t believe they ever made it to the pottery level of the service award ladder).
Lastly, I think I’ve remained at the same place of employment for so long because it fit perfectly with my life’s goals and priorities. I have worked in order to contribute to my family’s finances … but the job that was of greatest importance to me was being a wife and mother. My workplace has never been located more than about a mile from my home. My children’s schools have never been more than six blocks from work. I’ve never missed an elementary school program, a junior high athletic event or the opportunity to volunteer on occasion in their classrooms. If a call came from the school nurse that one of my kids was sick – I was there to pick them up in minutes … I could go home for lunch and when there was a blizzard, I could walk to work. The downside to that – being a self-contained institution, we abide by the same motto as the United States Postal Service…. Rain, hail, sleet, snow… the College is open. I was able to work part time for a decade while I had young children. Could I have made more money or been successful in a different work venue? Certainly. Could I have fulfilled my deepest desire to be close to my kids, active in their school years and provide them with college educations (another perk in private higher education, tuition remission)? I doubt it. I opted for a job over a career… but it’s been a job I love. I have no regrets.
So another opening reception is past, another academic year begins. Tomorrow, the new freshmen class will arrive on campus to being their four year experience. I’ll be on hand to take ID photos and assist, as I have over the years, with the new student validation activities. Every year the students appear to get a little younger (and so do their parents!) I’ve checked in the children of former students and before I retire, I may check in their grandchildren. It’s the circle of life in higher education…. and it’s my life. Like my social security number or having blue eyes … working here is part of who I am and I’m glad to celebrate thirty-five years of service, to the College that has served me well.
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